Chickens ate rat poison

[Bekallen86]

A little background, we have had our layers for almost a year, bought them at 14 weeks. We have a problem neighbor who has plagued the neighborhood for 25 years. Being the new kids on the block he picked us as his next obsession and what started out with complaining about us to anyone who would listen and defaming us to the community in township meetings quickly progressed to putting out rat poison for our chickens. We can't prove it but we lost 5 chickens to the poison. Another neighbor told us he had witnessed Bully neighbor trespassing on our property and coming up to our chicken coop area in our backyard. We found this rather hard to believe at the time but just a few days ago caught him on our cameras trespassing onto our driveway to peer into the coolers we had sitting out and placing a lime on our friend's car. Yes it really is getting that weird. So he was warned by police to stay away from us. Yesterday while cleaning out the coop we found multiple blue green colored droppings which reminded us of the teal colored mucous present when our chickens suddenly dropped dead. SO all that to say, my enormous concern now is that he possibly poisoned our chickens again (he would have had to come all the way into our yard to do so) and those chickens did not eat enough to die. If that happened I've unknowingly been feeding my kids and my pregnant self rat poisoned eggs. They (the chickens) don't seem to have any symptoms and are very healthy except one that seems lethargic and is not growing like the others. They did not all have the blue green poop, it could have all been from one bird. The poop was on top of the pile so it had to have been excreted in the day or two prior. I saved the poop to possibly get it tested and I'm waiting to hear from dept of agriculture if they can do that. Does anyone know if they would have other symptoms? If its possible for them to eat poison and not die? I did find a study that showed rat poison will remain in the eggs for weeks afterwards which concerns me greatly. Is there anything else I can do as far as testing the chickens or eggs? Thanks for reading my extensive, anxiety ridden post! Attached are pictures of said poop.

 

[mixedbreeds]

I don’t know anything about it but am so sorry this is happening to you, it’s hard to believe the people that are out there. I know for dogs vet may us activated charcoal and then vitamin K for 3 to 4 weeks no clue for chicken or your health. Till I found out I certainly wouldn’t eat the eggs I’m sure you are not anymore.

 

[pennyJo1960]

The charcoal is the way to go with vitamin K I would call police if you
have it on a trail cam

 

[mixedbreeds]

This is all I could find
NAME SUMMARY Supportive care Isolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm location (your own chicken "intensive care unit") with easy access to water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian. Activated charcoal May be beneficial if administered within the four hours after suspected ingestion. Vitamin K1 0.2-2.2mg/kg given IM or subcutaneously every 4 to 8 hours until stabilized. Once stabilized, it is administered usually once daily for at least 2 weeks or longer, depending on the severity. Blood transfusion In severe cases Support

See more at: http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/rodenticide-toxicity

 

[MROO]

Set up a few extra cameras. Your health, and that of your children, especially the one that you carry, may well depend on what you find. And if, as I fervently hope and pray, you find your fears are unfounded, the relief will be well worth the extra cost and effort.

 

[Kiki]

What state are you in?
If you should lose another chicken I highly recommend vsending it to your state lab for testing.

 

[AmyJane725]

That is insane. Oh my God. I'd call the cops immediately and tell them what he did in the past and what your fears are now (killing your pets and potentially poisoning you and your children). Trespassing is illegal. Show them the tape. There has to be something they can do. He's harassing you at the very least. Get a restraining order and if you catch him on tape again he'll be in jail.

 

[Velvet Sparrow]

Terrible! Seconding the advice above on charcoal/Vit K and getting dead birds/eggs tested by the state--the fee may be nominal or zero. Also I'd install motion activated lights/cameras (the motion activated trail cameras wth night vision are a great idea) because nothing says he won't do this under cover of night. If this guy is known for this he likely has been arrested before. I'd go after him hammer and tongs, make yourself a VERY unpleasant target and maybe he'll back off if you are more trouble than you are worth. See if you are legally required to post 'No Trespassing' signs in order to stick him with a trespassing charge. Check with your local DA as to what crimes he is commiting if he is indeed poisoning your animals (check out livestock crimes) and via any poison passed along in the eggs, you and your kids & unborn. Specifically ask about attempted murder/manslaughter, etc. Some things CAN be passed along in eggs, such as DDT...sorry I don't know if rat poison can. I know a poisoned mouse can kill or sicken chickens if they eat it. Get you and your kids blood tested for rat poison. Poisoning symptoms in chickens can lead to internal bleeding, liver/kidney failure is often indicated by bright green poops. Lethargy, weight loss, not eating, excessive thirst and pale combs/wattles can be other indicators.

 

[MROO]

If you report the issue - or even the suspected issue, to the police, they will most likely have any dead chickens (or possibly fecal samples) tested as part of a suspected and/or potential crime. They may even set up a surveillance camera for you - and they know how and where to place them to get the most incriminating angles.

 

[mixedbreeds]

Well we all had a lot of thoughts but what happened to OP?